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The Kenya Medical Association (KMA) has condemned police brutality and the use of excessive force against the public and health practitioners providing emergency medical services to injured protestors.
In a statement on Wednesday, the association expressed concerns about the actions witnessed during Tuesday’s Anti-Finance Bill protests, underscoring the need to uphold the rule of law.
The constitution under the Bill of Rights grants citizens the freedom and right to assemble and picket.
“These actions by law enforcement agencies undermine the principle of a just and democratic society and have contributed significantly to the morbidity and mortality witnessed over the last few days,” the statement read in part.
The association expressed concerns over excessive force against healthcare workers and the obstruction of medical services, noting that such actions violate the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
The medical practitioners in a statement signed by their President Simon Kiganda, expressed their disappointment by the reported attacks and abductions of some of their colleagues offering voluntary services during the protest.
Kenya has signed if not all but most of the international laws and standards that are aimed at protecting medical practitioners in their line of duty or during times of conflict.
The World Health Organization which Kenya is a signatory on some of the treaties, outlines the necessity of medical neutrality, ensuring that healthcare workers can fearlessly perform their duties in any kind of environment.
The World Medical Association (WMA) policy on medical practitioners’ safety, to which KMA adheres, strictly emphasizes the protection and safety of healthcare workers irrespective of the kind of environment they operate.
The scenes witnessed and voiced by various institutions and human rights organizations go against the principle of a conducive working environment for medical practitioners.
“Reports of obstructed access to care, barring of ambulance, and attacks on healthcare delivery camps are particularly concerning. Every Kenyan has the right to health and seek medical attention without fear of harm,” the statement stressed.
This comes a day after teargas canisters were lobbed at a medical camp in Holy Family Basilica.
The association vowed to fight for the safety of all medical practitioners.
Additionally, the association has urged the government to facilitate the movement and ensure the safety and protection of healthcare workers.
In the raft of demands, the MKA has also appealed to the Ministry Of Health to support the delivery of emergency medical services by providing the necessary resources.
